GAME DAY: Today marks the fifth of eight meetings between the U.S. and Canada leading up to the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games, and the fourth as part of The Time is Now Tour, presented by Toyota. Today’s game will be televised in the U.S. on NBCSN and streamed live on the NBC Sports App. Follow the updates on Twitter @USAHockey and join the conversation by using the hashtag #TheTimeIsNow.

BUILDING MOMENTUM: Entering December, the U.S. stands at 5-0-0-1-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L-T) on the season, having defeated Canada in three out of four meetings. Most recently, the U.S. won all four games it played to earn its third straight championship at the 2017 Four Nations Cup, which was held Nov. 7-12 in Wesley Chapel and Tampa, Fla. The U.S., which topped Canada 5-1 in the title game, outscored its opponents 22-5 in four games. Earlier this season, the U.S. split a pair of games with Canada in October, defeating its rival, 5-2, on Oct. 22 in Quebec City, Que., and then falling, 5-1, in The Time is Now Tour opener Oct. 25 in Boston, Mass.

NEW FACES:Sidney Morin (Minnetonka, Minn.) and Haley Skarupa (Rockville, Md.) will make their season debut for Team USA at today’s game after having been called to train with the U.S. Women’s National Team on Monday, Nov. 27. Morin, who helped lead the 2013 U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team to a silver medal at the 2013 International Ice Hockey Federation Under-18 Women’s World Championship, has played 21 games for MODO Hockey of the Swedish Women’s Hockey League this season, where she has recorded 10 goals and 22 assists. Morin also played four seasons with the University of Minnesota Duluth (2013-2017). Skarupa, who has helped the U.S. win gold medals in three IIHF Women’s World Championships (2015, 2016, 2017), has played six games for the Boston Pride of the National Women’s Hockey League in 2017-18, and has recorded three goals and four assists. Skarupa also played four seasons with Boston College (2012-2016). Morin will wear No. 38; Skarupa will wear No. 11.

MINNESOTA ROOTS: There is no shortage of Minnesota connections on the current roster, which features seven players with Minnesota hometowns – the most of any state. Minnesota is also the home state of head coach Robb Stauber, a native of Medina, and associate head coach Brett Strot, who hails from Maple Grove.